Scholarly Resources

Curated links to academic research, historical sources, and scholarly materials for advanced readers and academics.

Primary Historical Sources

Livy - History of Rome (Books 24-30)

The Roman historian Livy provides detailed accounts of the Second Punic War, including references to Sophonisba.

Period: 64 BCE - 12 BCE

Availability: Translation available through university libraries

Appian - Punic Wars

Greek historian Appian's comprehensive account of the Punic Wars, written from a more neutral perspective than Livy.

Period: 95-165 CE

Availability: English translation: Penguin Classics and others

Plutarch - Life of Scipio Africanus

Biographical account of Scipio Africanus, a key figure in the war against Carthage.

Period: 46-120 CE

Availability: Translated in "Plutarch's Lives"

Polybius - Histories

Greek historian Polybius wrote extensively about the Punic Wars and Mediterranean politics.

Period: 200-118 BCE

Availability: Partial English translations available

Cassius Dio - Roman History (Book 17)

Roman historian Cassius Dio provides accounts of the Second Punic War period, including information about Massinissa and the political dynamics of North Africa.

Period: 155-235 CE

Availability: English translation available online and through Penelope Project

Link: Read Online

Modern Academic Research

Contemporary scholarly works on ancient history, Carthage, and women in antiquity:

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Carthage and Hannibal by Theodor Mommsen

Classic Historical Work

Comprehensive history of Carthage

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The Second Punic War by John Prevas

Modern Scholarship

In-depth analysis of military strategy and campaigns

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Women in Ancient Carthage by Theophile Gautier and Modern Historians

Gender Studies

Research on female agency in Carthaginian society

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Massinissa and the Numidian Kingdom by Multiple Scholars

Biographical Study

Political and military role of Massinissa

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Mediterranean Politics in the 3rd Century BCE

Regional History

Context for understanding Sophonisba's world

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Ancient Sources on Sophonisba: Analysis and Interpretation

Scholarly Article

Critical examination of historical sources

Research Topics & Keywords

Use these topics and keywords to find academic articles and research:

Ancient History

  • •Second Punic War
  • •Ancient Carthage
  • •Roman history
  • •Mediterranean politics

Military History

  • •Hannibal campaigns
  • •Roman military strategy
  • •Ancient naval warfare
  • •Numidian forces

Women's Studies

  • •Women in ancient Rome
  • •Female agency in antiquity
  • •Gender roles in Carthage
  • •Political women in ancient world

Literature & History

  • •Historical fiction and accuracy
  • •Classical literature adaptations
  • •Sophonisba in literature
  • •Ancient sources interpretation

Where to Find Academic Resources

University Libraries

Access through institutional memberships to academic databases and journals

Google Scholar (scholar.google.com)

Free access to many peer-reviewed articles and scholarly works

JSTOR

Comprehensive digital library of academic journals (requires subscription)

Project MUSE

Digital humanities resource with ancient history materials

Internet Archive (archive.org)

Free access to many classic historical texts and academic works

Open Access Journals

Many peer-reviewed historical journals offer free online access

Suggested Reading List

Essential Primary Sources

  • 1.Livy, Books 24-30 (focus on chapters mentioning Sophonisba)
  • 2.Appian, Punic Wars (for comparative ancient perspective)

Recommended Secondary Works

  • 1.A comprehensive history of the Punic Wars for military and political context
  • 2.Articles on women in ancient Mediterranean politics and society
  • 3.Regional studies on Numidia and Carthaginian North Africa

Consult with your institution's librarian or academic advisor for current scholarly recommendations and access to academic databases.